Chitting second earlies

[robmarston]

Dear all potato experts. I have got two bags of second early Nicola spuds. There's quite a few of them. I've never grown potatoes before and I've looked but can't find an answer to my questions here and would appreciate some advice. 1. I have a south facing tough plastic greenhouse. Would it be ok to chit them in there? 2. Can I chit/plant them in shifts so I have a continual crop and if so when would be the latest I could plant them? 3. How far up do I earth up and how do I tell when to do it? 4. How far apart should I plant each seed potato in my raised bed? 5. Now for the stupid question - how do I know when they're ready to harvest?? Any help greatly appreciated.


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[Bill HH]

You dont need to do succesional planting you do succesional harvesting instead. ie dig em up when you want them. Chitting in the GH is perfect, they need light and no frost. The reason for earthing up is to stop any spuds getting light and going green and poisonous so you just drag soil up around the leaves leaving some showing to get energy from the sun. The closer you plant them the smaller they will be, if its a raised bed I expect you dont have much space so I would suggest 6 to 8 inches apart. All this is my opinion and no claims for damages will be entertained. Oh potatoes need lots of water.
Your best bet is to look on You Tube, there is more info on potatoe growing than you can wave your dibber at. Try allotmentdiary Dan is my hero. Allotment Diary : Chitting Seed Potatoes : How to pre sprout your spuds before planting - YouTube

That vid is about chitting but he covers all aspects of veg growing.



Although you dont need to stagger the planting of spuds you can alter the harvest time by planting different varieties, ealy, second early or main crop, however many second earlies are just left in until they becom large main crop. In general earlies are ready in about 12 weeks and you harvest them when they flower, mains take 20 weeks plus and you harvest them when the foilage dies or before if you suspect blight.

[robmarston]

Brilliant! Thanks Bill that was very helpful. I didn't think to look on YouTube. Hope I get a few good potatoes 😀


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[Alison]

Chitting in the GH is perfect, they need light and no frost.

I'd disagree that a greenhouse was a good place to chit as it gets bloomin' cold in there at this time of year and, unless they're heated, it's highly unlikely that they are frost free and you'll end up with frost damaged seed potatoes. A cool spare room window ledge or something like that tends to be good. Mine are currently in the conservatory but there are other options.

[Bill HH]

I'd disagree that a greenhouse was a good place to chit as it gets bloomin' cold in there at this time of year and, unless they're heated, it's highly unlikely that they are frost free and you'll end up with frost damaged seed potatoes. A cool spare room window ledge or something like that tends to be good. Mine are currently in the conservatory but there are other options.

Ah well Allison you a right if you live up in warrington or if we get a cold snap down south i would bring them in for the night. My Gh has yet to fall below 2 deg C this year. I did say they must be kept frost free. They really dont want to be too warm.

[Alison]

Ah well Alison you a right if you live up in warrington or if we get a cold snap down south i would bring them in for the night. My Gh has yet to fall below 2 deg C this year. I did say they must be kept frost free. They really dont want to be too warm.

Ah but you have to factor in that fact I'm tight so our house is never very warm and you definitely need a warm jumper on to go in our conservatory at this time of year

[Dorothy rouse]

Coolish, spare bedroom, spread on seed trays, looking good.

[Nannysally99]

Coolish, spare bedroom, spread on seed trays, looking good.

All in egg boxes or seed trays keeping cool in my front porch. Must keep an eye on the temp though as we have been known to use the porch as an overflow for food/drink at Christmas


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[veggiechicken]

All in egg boxes or seed trays keeping cool in my front porch. Must keep an eye on the temp though as we have been known to use the porch as an overflow for food/drink at Christmas


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Don't worry Nannysally - your potatoes should be well chitted before Chr***mas

[robmarston]

Thing is, I don't have a spare room and the only light windowsills we have are very small. All rooms are used and therefore not really cool. I'm going to have to try the greenhouse and keep fingers crossed. I am in the north of the south west so hopefully we won't get any nasty frosts.....


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[Kristen]

T I'm going to have to try the greenhouse and keep fingers crossed. I am in the north of the south west so hopefully we won't get any nasty frosts.....

If the greenhouse isn't too far away - not up on the allotment, for example! - then brining them in on nights that are forecast to be below freezing would be advisable - frost will do them serious damage - and they don't need any light at night of course but the way the jet stream is blowing up from Florida, as a consequence of the severe weather in America, I can't see any serious cold coming in from the East during February, and thereafter there shouldn't be much to worry about, so fingers-crossed this year at least should be OK

[Bill HH]

If it looks like there may be a frost, cover them up with fleece but its nearly March and a frost that willl penetrate your GH where you live is to me unlikely. Go for it, if the worse comes to the worst you can always buy some more there is plenty of time.

[robmarston]

Yeah I'm going to go for it. The greenhouse is close to the house and I have lots of fleece as well. Thanks for the advice everyone,


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